Firm favourites heading into the clash against Al Masry following their goalless first leg result in Egypt, Congolese giants AS Vita did not take long to gain the advantage in the tie as Emomo Ngoyi rose highest from a corner to head his side in front after just six minutes.
And six minutes before the break, Vita – and Ngoyi – had their second, as Fabrice Ngoma’s lay-off sat up perfectly for the Congolese midfielder to volley home with a powerful strike from outside the box to hand his side a 2-0 half-time lead.
Al Masry did have chances of their own, with an effort cleared off the line in the second half, yet it would be Vita who would extend their lead as Jean-Marc Masuku beat the offside trap and the onrushing goalkeeper to net his side’s third, while a brilliant solo effort in stoppage time from substitute Mokoko Batezadio put the icing on the cake as Vita continued their perfect record at home in the competition, the 4-0 victory securing their maiden spot in the Confederation Cup final.
At a packed Stade Mohammed V in Morocco, visitors Enyimba had all the work to do as they trailed 1-0 from the first leg played three weeks ago. Despite the Nigerians enjoying a number of early chances which kept Casablanca shot-stopper Anas Zniti busy in goal, it would be the hosts that would open the scoring on the night in first-half stoppage time as defender Isiaka Oladuntoye was caught in possession just outside the box, Zakaria Hadraf dispossessing his opponent before slotting home to give his side a 1-0 lead.
That advantage would double late into the encounter as Oladuntoye’s nightmare continued: the defender failed to deal with a ball whipped in from the left as he guided it into the back of his own net, giving the hosts a 3-0 aggregate lead.
A fine solo strike from range from substitute Abdulrahman Bashir on the stroke of full-time was too little, too late for Enyimba as Casablanca emerged 3-1 aggregate winners to book their place in final, where they will hope to repeat their 2003 feat by lifting Africa’s second-tier club competition trophy for the second time.
The two-legged final will be played over the last two weekends of November, with Casablanca hosting the first leg.